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Article: The bear hungers on: will Russia get--and keep--its act together? The major republic of the former Soviet Union is full of economic possibilities--and major pitfalls.(Economics)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- January 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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AMERICANS NEED TO rethink their views about Russia. That nation is a geographic superpower, and may still be a military giant. However, its economic might does not equal that of the former Soviet Union. That situation, though, could change substantially--for better or worse.
A few comparisons will provide some context. Russia has the largest land mass of any nation, almost double that of the U.S.-17,000,000 square kilometers versus America's 9,500,000. It extends over 11 time zones. That makes it difficult for the folks in Moscow to do business with people in Siberia--who are asleep much of the time that Muscovites are at work. In comparison, the lower continental ...